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The Colorado summer heat is gradually coming to an end, but perhaps an injury you received from working out in the blazing sun is still haunting you. It is your employer’s responsibility to make certain they take all necessary precautions in protecting you from various heat-related work injuries.
If you were injured on the job due to excessive heat or prolonged exposure to the sun, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation.
If you’ve been hurt by overheating, know that you are not alone! Every year thousands of American workers suffer from a variety of heat-caused illnesses. Often these serious issues could have been avoided had there been proper precautions in place.
Below are safety measures that employers should take to protect their workers from the heat:
- Offer plenty of water breaks
- Provide a place of shade to rest on breaks
- Make certain employees are wearing the proper type of clothing
- Monitor the heat index
Obviously, you have some responsibility in protecting yourself as well. However, if you feel your employer would not allow you to take breaks or forced you to do a particular job on a particularly hot day, you should keep a record of this type of information and present it to a worker’s comp lawyer in your area.
If you are on the job and begin to experience a variety of symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, feeling faint, confusion, weakness or headaches, you should immediately take a break and let your supervisor know your situation. Heat stroke is a very serious condition and often may come with little to no warning, therefore jobsite safety precautions are very necessary.
If you or a loved one has experienced a heat-related work injury, call Denver’s experienced workers’ compensation attorney Mack Babcock at (303) 683-5033 to discuss your case. If we can help, we’ll schedule you a free consultation to determine if you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses or missed time at work due to the failure of your employer to provide the proper safety precautions.
Browse our blog and knowledge center to learn more about worker safety, personal injury and much more.
